Westerdam - General Comments

[heyabbott]

We have cruised a great many days with HAL and when we cruised with very good friends of ours from home and they were not Mariners. We did NOT bring them to the party with us. They did not qualify.

 

They must be very understanding and quite good people, you're very lucky. OTOH, we would not have attended a party where our friends were not welcome.

[Krazy Kruizers]

To get from the Lido pool to the Aft pool you do have to walk through the Lido restaurant. Lots of people do it. And most use cover-ups - no big deal.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Most of the Mariner parties that we have attended that last few years have been in the morning - around 11:30. So it won't interrup your pre-dinner cocktails.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The waiters we had in the dining room the first week were fantastic - Dewa and Pram - they worked very well together and were quick with everything. Dewa was the waiter and Pram was his assistant. During the second week our area captain told us that Dewa got so many good marks from the passengers that he got a little something extra - wouldn't say how much - as well as a day off sometime. Yes there is competition in the dining room.

The second week our waiter and his assitant were all right. It was obvious they hadn't worked together before as they couldn't get their act together.

The Westerdam had a new game - Gameshow Mania. It is held twice a week and is a take off on Jepardy. The first time it is held, 16 people can play. They are brkoen down into 4 groups of 4. The winner of each group comes back the last sea day to compete against each other. We loved Gameshow Mania.

[sail7seas]

They must be very understanding and quite good people, you're very lucky. OTOH, we would not have attended a party where our friends were not welcome.[/Quote]

 

 

 

heyabbot:

 

Why would someone who did not qualify expect they would be welcome at a party for which there is only the basic requirement that you have sailed with HAL in the past? Either you have or you have not.

 

Either you go where you are expected and refrain from going where you are not expected.........or you are not one who is compliant with rules.

 

Our friends would never have wanted us to avoid going to a Mariners' Party (which lasts under an hour BTW)......they knew how often we have cruised with the company. They know that we were to receive a medal at that party. They are our friends and were happy for our enjoyment.

 

The point is they are Friends. They do not go where they know they are not supposed to be.

[heyabbott]

heyabbot:

 

Why would someone who did not qualify expect they would be welcome at a party for which there is only the basic requirement that you have sailed with HAL in the past? Either you have or you have not.

 

Either you go where you are expected and refrain from going where you are not expected.........or you are not one who is compliant with rules.

 

Our friends would never have wanted us to avoid going to a Mariners' Party (which lasts under an hour BTW)......they knew how often we have cruised with the company. They know that we were to receive a medal at that party. They are our friends and were happy for our enjoyment.

 

The point is they are Friends. They do not go where they know they are not supposed to be.

 

Just a different way of looking at things I guess, I'm sure there's no right answer. My wife and I have been involved in similar things before and we have always chosen the company of our friends to the special perks in which they may not be included.

 

We used some frequent flier miles to upgrade to business class on a trip with friends, we didn't have enough for our friends tickets so they stayed in coach. During a 4 1/2 hour layover we could have used the 1st class lounge, but our friends wouldn't be allowed. We felt it was rude to abandon them so we could be more comfortable, even though they insisted, we stayed near the gate and the bar. We still had a very good time. Maybe it's not the same. I guess the point is that they are our friends and we don't go where they are not allowed.

Like I said, there's probably no right answer, just a different way of looking at things.

[HeatherInFlorida]

They must be very understanding and quite good people, you're very lucky. OTOH, we would not have attended a party where our friends were not welcome.

 

First of all, it's not a "party" per se. It's a gathering of passengers who have cruised with HAL before. And some passengers are recognized for having cruised a certain number of days. It's not something you'd really be interested in (IMHO) unless you've cruised with HAL before.

But I feel compelled to ask heyabbot: If you were invited to a wedding and had friends visiting from out of town, would you expect that should be invited to the wedding just because you're going?

[gizmo]

Thank you for clearing that up. My parents will probably not go without us as they depend on us to help them get around. We will probably not miss much anyway. We enjoy going to one of the lounges to have a pre dinner drink, so we will just have our own little party. :D [/color][/font]

 

Sea Island Lady, If your parents would like to attend the Mariners Party, go with them. You will not be kicked out or looked down on. There is nothing wrong with this. I think it is great that you are there to help your parents around. :)

[Sea Island Lady]

Thanks! It really isn't that big of a deal. That's why I asked if we were welcomed or not. We would never crash a party.

 

Most of the Mariner parties that we have attended that last few years have been in the morning - around 11:30. So it won't interrup your pre-dinner cocktails.

That settles it! We will definately not be attending because around 11:30, we will be out in the sun. Never waste daylight! :)

 

This discussion reminds me of the time my DH and I were invited to eat at the Captain's table on the Celebrity Millennium. Neither my parents nor my children were invitied. We were to celebrate my oldest daughters birthday that evening (even though her birthday was a few days away.), so were delined the invitation. My parents urged us to accept the dinner invitation, but we declined because we wanted to have dinner with the family and we loved our servers. The social hostess acted insulted that we turned down the invitation and our waiter could not believe it! :D

 

My Mom has already told me that she is giving us one of her tiles. :D

[charliewesley]

Krazy Kruiser

 

We are doing the East/West b2b in March. What can you tel me about Ft. Lauderdale disembarcation day. In between cruises. :confused:

 

Thanks for the great info!:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

Back-to-back cruises

Each time we do a back-to-back cruise, the rules change slightly.

The day before (Saturday) we got our new cards and had our pictures taken. In fact we had them taken before we got on the tender for HMC. We didn't have any problems using our new cards but others did. On Sunday we were told that we would be the last group (you are refered to as "in-transit" guests) to be called to go through immigration and to take our old card to get off the ship along with our new card to get back on the ship. Cruise staff seemed a little confused about this. We were told to have our passports or photo ID's ready along with our custom's declaration form. When we all got down to deck 2 there was a lady there to escort us over to immigration. Our new cards worked perfectly. We used them to get off and back on the ship. We didn't need the old cards. There were about 100 of us staying on board. Some of the new cards didn't work when the poeple tried to get back on the ship. After going through immigration we went downstairs and sat in the crew lounge. We could not get back on the ship until all passengers were off. We sat there about 10 minutes when an elderly couple finally got off the ship. Have no idea why they waited to be the last off the ship. At least they didn't have to hunt through tons of luggage to find theirs. Once they were out of our area, we went back upstairs and got back on the ship. This all happened between 10:15 and 10:30. Only a couple of people chose to go out and see Ft Lauderdale and they were the only ones who had to turn in their custom's declaration form. No one bothered to collect ours. This was the first time in many back-to-back cruises that we went back on the ship through the regular passenger gangway and not through the crew's gangway.

 

Even though the notice we received in our cabins the night before indicated that lunch would be served beginning at noon, they opened the Lido at 11:30 as soon as the first new passengers began to baord.

The rest of the time you could do anything you wanted to on the ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Finally found some of my other notes.

I remembered that someone asked once if there would be enough hangers in the closets. Okay - I counted them. Besides the 6 lingerie hangers there were 59 other hangers.

One day at lunch in the dining room, as I mentioned before, meatloaf was served. It was called: "The Master Chef's Special Meatloaf Sandwich -- a honey wheat hero roll slathered with cayenne aioli and topped with barbeque sauce-basted meatloaf slices and sweet grilled onions".

 

There was also Bahmi (their spelling - not mine) Goreng offered one day for lunch in the dining room. It was a smaller portion of the one that used to be served for dinner.

 

Each week Nasi Goreng was offered once on the dinner menu.

 

In various places throughout the ship, small garbage cans were placed for whatever. One was placed in the hallway on deck 3 as you entered the dining room. It was moved after a couple of days when a man fell over it. Some of the cans are about 18 inches high.

 

Gym - lots of equipment. There were 3 banks of 5 treadmills - all face outward - there were 2 TV monitors between the banks. There were also 2 eliptical trainers. There were several spinning bikes - $11 a session - they made certain that no one used them when there weren't any sessions - they removed the handle bars.

[Vic The Parrot]

We used some frequent flier miles to upgrade to business class on a trip with friends, we didn't have enough for our friends tickets so they stayed in coach. During a 4 1/2 hour layover we could have used the 1st class lounge, but our friends wouldn't be allowed. We felt it was rude to abandon them so we could be more comfortable, even though they insisted, we stayed near the gate and the bar. We still had a very good time. Maybe it's not the same. I guess the point is that they are our friends and we don't go where they are not allowed.

Like I said, there's probably no right answer, just a different way of looking at things.

 

 

One time, I drove my sister to the airport. She has membership in the Presidents Club for Continental. Since we got there early, we waited in the club room til her flight was ready.

 

I wasn't asked for credentials after sitting down. And she told me it's ok to wait with her in there, even tho i'm a guest.

As far as repeaters parties go, I've never seen pax being asked for thier invitations, or ID.

 

So if you want to go with your parents, go ahead and enjoy a glass of champagne with them. No one will care.

[tree25]

I'm 29 and my fiancee 24.. This Sunday will be our first cruise with Holland America.. we will be sailing aboard the Westerdam... I'll let you know how we like it-

[TedC]

All the airline clubs I've belonged to allowed you to bring one guest, sometimes two. And all the clubrooms were considerably larger than the Neptune Lounges.

[Vic The Parrot]

[quote

]There was also Bahmi (their spelling - not mine) Goreng offered one day for lunch in the dining room. It was a smaller portion of the one that used to be served for dinner.

 

Each week Nasi Goreng was offered once on the dinner menu.

 

 

 

 

I'm lost

 

 

Just recently, another CC member posted that Bami goreng WAS available during dinner hours, and it was offered a certain night.

 

I'm looking forward to one of my favourite treats on board.

If I don't see it for dinner, guess I can give it a try for lunch. Or, maybe even request it for dinner one night.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Bami Goreng was offered as a dinner on sail7seas 12 day cruise.

We were on 7 day cruises - different menus.

[Vic The Parrot]

That's where I've seen it!

 

 

Thanks S7S ..... and thanks KK

 

 

But I'll still try putting in a special request for dinner 1 nite. Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

BTW

 

I promise not to trip over any garbage cans.....

 

 

:-D

[yellowking]

I'll be traveling on the Westerdam for the first time in March...and looking forward to it.

Usually cruise 4 times a year and never got around to HAL.

We were invited to a luncheon on the Westerdam in December and decided we liked it enough to give it a try.

 

In OCtober we'll be doing transatlantic on Carnivals new ship ... Liberty.

 

WEll anyway.... glad to read all you've written ... seems like we'll have to rush out to get us some good lounge chairs by the pool. But that's common on most cruises...and I imagine that Spring Break time will have lots of teenagers traveling.

 

Oh wellll

the more the merrier. !!

Maxine

[kruzkeen]

There was a slight difference in the menus from week one to week two. The first week chicken cordon blue was offered - the second week it was replaced with chicken creole. The first week we had steamed Alaskan King Crab legs, New England lobster tails - big and delicious, & Beef Wellington. None of these were offered the second week. In place of the big lobster tails was surf and turf - a small filet and very small lobster tail. The Beef Wellington was replaced with Saltimbocca of Veal. Nothing was substituted for the crab legs. Only 6 items on the menu that evening.

 

Thanks KK for your detailed and perceptive account of your cruise.

 

I can understand why some reviews state than HAL's food has come done hill and some say it is as good as ever. It might be understandable that menus could differ from one ship to another, but to have a choice of Beef Wellington or Lobster Tail one week and the stingy Surf and Turf or a veal dish the next week on the same ship is hard to understand.

[Vic The Parrot]

 

 

In various places throughout the ship, small garbage cans were placed for whatever. One was placed in the hallway on deck 3 as you entered the dining room. It was moved after a couple of days when a man fell over it. Some of the cans are about 18 inches high

 

 

 

How can you fall over something that big?

Was this guy potted,blind-folded......

[Krazy Kruizers]

The hallway to the dining room is not real wide and as a result people can get really bunched up there. Apparently the man didn't see people moving slightly to the right to avoid the can and he fell right over it.

[dakrewser]

Bami Goreng was offered as a dinner on sail7seas 12 day cruise.

 

We were on 7 day cruises - different menus.

 

I believe (and Vic will certainly test this out!) that Bami Goreng was on the Tuesday (DR-4) menu on the Oosterdam's 7-day. I didn't order it, didn't save the menus but did remark on it at the time. I think. :)

 

-dave

[Sea Island Lady]

How can you fall over something that big?

Was this guy potted,blind-folded......

 

18 inches is not that big!

I am accident prone and the one item that tends to get me on the ship are those orange caution cones about 18" high.) They get me in other places also. I am constantly tripping over them. :rolleyes:

 

Apparently the man didn't see people moving slightly to the right to avoid the can and he fell right over it.

That's me! :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sounds as though not all the ships with 7 day itineraries have the same menus.